Title: Nehemiah Prayed
Memorize: And I said: “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments, Nehemiah 1:5 (Nkjv)
Bible Reading: (Nkjv)
[3] And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.”
[4] So it was, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned for many days; I was fasting and praying before the God of heaven.
[5] And I said: “I pray, Lord God of heaven, O great and awesome God, You who keep Your covenant and mercy with those who love You and observe Your commandments,
[6] please let Your ear be attentive and Your eyes open, that You may hear the prayer of Your servant which I pray before You now, day and night, for the children of Israel Your servants, and confess the sins of the children of Israel which we have sinned against You. Both my father’s house and I have sinned.
Message:
God is a Master Strategist, and He has different strategies to handle different situations. When Nehemiah decided to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, he was smart enough to pray first, and God gave him the right strategy.
God told him to tell the volunteers to rebuild the walls with one hand and carry weapons on the other hand with which they could defend themselves from any form of attack from their enemies.
Beloved, learn from the story of Nehemiah. When you are faced with a challenge at school or at home, the first thing you need to do is pray.
Proverbs 3:5 says, “…lean not unto thine own understanding,” which means that for you to apply the right strategy to any situation, you should seek God’s face first.
Before I pray for people, I always talk to God first. Sometimes, He would instruct me to lay hands on the sick; at other times, He would just ask me to pray, but there was a time He said I should invite people who were sick to the altar and dance around them.
It sounded foolish, but l obeyed, and they all got healed. My dear child, if you are going through any difficult situation, ask God to show you a strategy to overcome that situation now, and He will give you the best strategy.
Key Point:
God has the best strategy to handle any situation; just ask Him.
HYMN 12: ONWARD CHRISTIAN SOLDIERS
1 Onward, Christian
soldiers, marching as to War,
With the cross of Jesus going on before!
Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;
Forward into battle, see his banner go!
Refrain:
Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,
With the cross of JesUs going on before!
2 At the name of Jesus Satan’s host doth flee;
On, then, Christian soldiers, on to victory!
Hell’s foundations quiver at the shout of praise;
Brothers, lift your voices, loud your anthems raise!
3 Like a mighty army moves the church of God:
Brothers, we are treading where the saints have trod;
We are not divided; all one body we,
One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.
4 Crowns and thrones may perish,
Kingdoms rise and wane;
But the church Jesus constant will remain:
Gates of hell can never ‘gainst that church prevail
We have Christ’s own promise and that cannot fail
5 0nward, then, ye people, join our happy throng,
Blend with ours your voices, in the triumph song;
Glory, praise and honour, unto Christ the King;
This through countless ages, men and angels sing.
Bible In One Year: Hosea 4:1-5:15, 2 John 1:1-13
Authors: Pastor E. A. Adeboye and Pastor Folu Adeboye